Sidney macey



No. 751,742. PATENT-ED, FEB. 9, 1904:. 's. MAGEY.

DEVICE FOR SOUNDING CHORDS 0N KEYBOARD INSTRUMENTS.

' I APPLIUATION FILED SEPT. 21, 1903. I0 MODEL. 2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

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No. 751,742. PATENTBD FEB. 9, 1904.

s. MACEY.

DEVICE FOR SOUNDING CHORDS 0N KEYBOARD INSTRUMENTS.

. APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 21, 1903. H0 IODEL. 2 SHEETBSKBBT 2.

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UNITED STATES Patented February 9, 1904.

PATENT OFFICE.

SIDNEY MACEY, OF BARNES, ENGLAND.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 751,742, dated February9, 1904. Application filed September 21, 1903. Serial No. 174,043- (Nomodel.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, SIDNEY MACEY, a subject of His Majesty the King ofGreat Britain, residing at Barnes, in the county of Surrey, England,have invented new and useful Improvements in Devices for Sounding Chordson Keyboard Instruments, of which the fol lowing is a specification.

My invention relates to apparatus adapted for application to thekeyboard of pianos, harmoniums, organs, and other like musicalinstruments whereby various prearranged combinations of keys may beoperated and any one of a corresponding number of chords sounded when asingle key-bar is actuated.

The object of my invention is to enable a person having no knowledge ofmusic to play an accompaniment to a vocalist or instrumen talist, and tothis end a series of key-bars are provided which when depressed in theproper order cause the chords of the accompaniment to be sounded.

In order that my invention may be clearly understood, I will now proceedto more particularly describe the same with the aid of the accompanyingdrawings, in which Figures 1, 2, and 3 show one form of my invention infront and side elevation and plan, respectively. Fig. 4 is a transversesection through one of the key-bars, illustrating a modification; andFig. 5 is a side elevation thereof.

According to the construction shown in Figs. 1, 2, and 3 I employ a base(0, provided with two front feet 6, which rest upon the frame 0 of themusical instrument, and two rear feet d, which rest upon the keys 0 at apoint near their fulcra. In some cases the front feet 6 may be providedwith a bent-under portion adapted to rest upon the keys 0.

On the base a are mounted two series of transversely-arranged key-barsf, which are adapted to slide on guide-rods g, which pass through eyes72, located at the ends of the said key-bars. These key-bars aresupported by springs 41 and are retained on their respective guide-rodsby caps j. One series of key-bars operates upon the bass note or notes,while the other operates upon the treble. Each of the key-bars f isprovided with a series of strikers erate the natural keys 6 or theaccidentals n.

Some of the key-bars f are also provided with strikers 0, having plainstems adapted to slide vertically freely in the said key-bars. Thisarrangement is employed to enable a change from the major to the minorkey, or vice versa, and for this purpose two such strikers 0 arearranged side by side, so that when one is depressed with the key-barone note is included in the chord and when the other is depressedanother note is introduced in its place.

According to a modification shown in Figs. 4 and 5 the strikers 0 areprovided with springs p to keep them in the lower position (see Fig. A)and are adapted to be raised to an upper position and there retained bymeans of a yoke g, which is lifted out of engagement with the key-barand given a quarterturn, as shown in Fig. 5.

In use the apparatus is placed upon the instrument in the mannerhereinbefore mentioned in such a position that the arrow 8 or othergage-mark on the front key-bar points to the key in which theaccompaniment is to be played.

What I claim, and desire to secure by Lettors Patent, is-

1. A device for sounding chords on keyboard instruments, comprising asupporting frame'or base adapted to be placed above the keys of amusical instrument, a key-bar arranged transversely of the keys of theinstrument above the base, strikers attached to and projectingdownwardly from said key-bar, and a striker sliding vertically alsocarried by said guide-bar for the purpose specified.

2. A device for sounding chords on keyboard instruments, comprising asupporting frame or base adapted to be placed over the keys of a musicalinstrument, a key-bar arranged transversely of the keys of theinstrument above the base, strikers attached to and projectingdownwardly from the key-bar, guide-rods extending upwardly from the baseand through the key-bar at opposite ends thereof, springs interposedbetween the base and the key-bar, and two vertically-sliding strikersplaced close together and adjustable for the purpose specified.

3. A device for sounding chords on keyboard instruments, comprising asupporting frame or base adapted to be placed above the keys of amusical instrument, a key-bar arranged transversely of the keys abovethe base, a series of strikers rigidly attached to the key-bar, and astriker sliding vertically in the key-bar provided with a spring formoving it downwardly, and with a pivoted yoke above the key-bar forholding it in an elevated position.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto subscribed my name.

SIDNEY MACEY. Witnesses:

WALTER J. SK'ERTEN, WV. M. HARRIS.

